Page:The venture; an annual of art and literature.djvu/116

 this and many more he performed such feats that when it was time to cease and the King gave the signal, all praised him and pronounced him worthy of the prize. And if the tourney had been but for one day he would then have gained it, but it had been ordained for three. The jousting being over for this day he rode to the balcony where the King was, about to leave the square, and attended upon him on horseback to the palace, and having made meet reverence to the Princess and being dismissed by the King, went to his companions who awaited him, and quitting the courtyard with the same dignity as he had entered it, repaired to his inn.

The Princess withdrew from the balcony to her apartment, content with what she had beheld and with what she had heard all say in praise of the stranger knight, nor was she amazed to see his arms and trappings of such exceeding richness, supposing that he had brought them from his father, whom she knew for a man of great possessions. This night there was a festival in the palace, with concerts of music and dances of nobles, courtiers, and ladies; and some who had been unlucky in the jousts took courage to return and again make trial of their fortune; and those who were proud of having done well took pleasure in hearing themselves commended by the ladies. And yet the stranger knight being absent, upon whom all eyes had been turned, the King asked concerning him, but could hear no other account save that he had retired to his hostel with his people. After the evening had been spent in gaiety all went